The Booth Library is hosting four creative craft classes for teens in July, led by two talented teachers, local artist Katie Stevens, and professional seamstress Colleen Bell.chboothlibrary.org. These programs are free, but space is limited.

Katie Stevens teaches a variety of craft classes for adults and kids and is well known in Newtown for her popular needle-felting and duct tape workshops.

As a two-part class, Ms Stevens will visit the library to help transform a book into a birdhouse. Starting with a small wooden birdhouse, she will show how to add a book roof, then decoupage and paint the walls, and add whimsical decorations to create a one-of-a-kind treasure. Classes take place on Wednesdays, July 13 and July 27, from 4 to 5:30 pm.

On Tuesday, July 19, from 4 to 5:30 pm, Ms Stevens will be teaching a class featuring a unique tie-dye technique that is free of mess. The activity combines chemistry and art. Create a simple pattern of dots, shapes, and lines with permanent ink pens applied directly on a T-shirt or any cotton item brought to the class. Using a dropper, students will drip rubbing alcohol on the design and let chemistry do its work. Participants should bring a light-colored clothing item to dye, e.g., a white or pastel-colored cotton T-shirt.

Colleen Bell has been teaching sewing classes to a variety of ages around the state of Connecticut and comes to the Booth Library highly recommended by the librarians of Fairfield. Her popular classes attract large numbers of avid sewers of all levels.

Ms Bell will teach two different sewing projects: embellishing a T-shirt on Tuesday, July 12, from 2 to 4 pm, and/or making a cool emoji pillow on Tuesday, July 26, also from 2 to 4 pm. Both projects will provide new or returning sewers with the skills and confidence required to try their hand at some creative projects featured on Pinterest and other DIY sites. If you want to add personal touches to your room, make a statement with an outfit, or try out for a spot on Project Runway, these classes are for you.

In the T-shirt class Ms Bell will teach how to embellish with applique, reverse applique, and ruffling techniques, all done quickly on a sewing machine.

Ms Bell will guide students through the easy instructions and even teach how to install a zipper using a sewing machine. Students are welcome to bring their own machine, but are asked to call the library beforehand for instructions.

If students do not know how to use a sewing machine, the library also is offering lessons on July 12 or July 26 at 1 pm for those who register.

The classes are for tweens and teens in grades six and up. To learn more about these programs and to sign up visit the library's webpage at